Hi everyone,
It’s 8:45 Tuesday evening and I just now read the comments… busy day again. I was trying to remember things some of you asked… and the only things I can remember were… “did I make my own piping because it was so small?” (Rosemary)
The piping is called “Petite Piping” and is from Children’s Corner. I bought it in a lot a long time ago on Ebay. It is smaller than regular piping, but not as small as some I’ve made using a small cotton cord. I might try that when I try this pattern again. I’d like to use a thinner fabric… maybe a Liberty of London Lawn fabric… so something thin like that. I think the sleeves could be really pretty if they had narrower piping and a bit more gathered on top… but that’s just me.
Joy asked if the tulip sleeves on the pink and white dress were in 2 pieces… yes they were… a front and a back for each sleeve.
The pink dress on Ebay has 164 views so far (in just 24 hours!) and there are 31 people watching it. 2 different bidders as well. I was just hoping it would sell and now there are 2 people interested in it! YAY!
Okay, I’ll go first and then I’ll share something Susette sent me… her pictures were too cute not to share.
Remember ALL that rain we got just a few days ago… well, we got more than normal and look what our courtyard (it used to be an in-ground swimming pool) turned into… “The Cement Pond!” (Beverly Hillbillies, if you didn’t know!) Actually we have NO reason to complain about what we got…at least all our water was “contained!”
If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.
Here are a few different views…My hubby did get what he needed to fix the fountain, but hasn’t had the time or his surgeries have gotten in the way.
I went up to the edge of the courtyard and took a picture and it was CRYSTAL CLEAR, but when I brought my phone in and looked at it on the computer… it looked kind of hazy. Look at all the clover under the water…
Okay, that was my first thing to share… here is number 2…
Last week my hubby had surgery #3 and is doing well. When we got to the town where it was done, we were 30 minutes early, and there is a Goodwill right next to the Doctor’s office, so I went inside and looked around… Guess what I found?
Another piece I can use for a doll hat… I was pretty sure this glass (votive holder, I think) piece would fit the Ruby Red Fashion Friend dolls… and it did…
I put it on Stella’s head and it was a nice fit… Since I was going to make the hat on the outside of this glass piece, I knew it would be slightly larger and slide down a bit more on Stella’s head.
The hat mold just might be my favorite now… I just love how it fits on Stella’s head… and I tried it on Freida’s/Lavender’s thick wig and it fit… and I even tried it on Violette who has a TON of hair and it squished down on her head too. Score!!!
Any suggestions as to what I should make to go with this style hat? It’s kind of like a cloche, isn’t it???
Okay, now it’s time to share what Susette sent me in an email last night or the night before…
I thought you might be interested in this. It’s an RRFF doll with the American Girl croquet set I just found. It seems to be just the right size for those dolls. I think it’s from 1996 and is part of Samantha’s Party Set.
Here it is with an American Girl doll. I think it looks too small. What do you think?
Thinking about dolls, 🥰 Susette
I personally like the croquet set with the Ruby Reds better. It does seem more to scale for their size. Cute prop for summer!
Thanks Susette!
Blessings, Jeanne
See everyone tomorrow
First of all, before I forget, thank you all for all the lovely comments about my dolls and their Easter outfits! I really appreciate it.
Barbara, if you go back and look, I did answer your question about what I used for the Easter baskets.
You did get quite a lot of rain, Jeanne! You are so right, yours is pretty much contained!
I’m glad to hear George’s third surgery went well, and that he is recovering nicely. And what a great find at the Goodwill! It looks to be exactly the right size for those girls! And….you’ve got a hat made already!!
As to what to go with it, I was thinking maybe a drop-waist dress (think “flapper”!) in a print with that soft lavender featuring, and then on the hat, maybe just floral trim on one side, in a fairly small area, with maybe a widish ribbon encircling the crown? That’s what I picture, anyway.
Susette, I love that croquet set! It’s really perfect with the RRFF dolls. As to the length, they’re still okay with the AGs, I think, as, for an adult playing, that’s about where the handle would hit, so it’s not Bad with them, it’s just that I think it would be proportionately more pleasing with the larger dolls if the pieces had a bit more “bulk” to them–slightly wider handles, for instance.
Jeanne, your pictures of your yard looks a lot like an old fashioned Victorian garden! I should know, since we drive through Tower Grove Park every time we visit the Mo. Botanical Gardens! You need some water lilies for the “pool” now and to set the fountain up! Didn’t all that rain leave a soggy mess? I guess Reuben needs doggie boots!
Well, aren’t you the “detective” in finding the things you need in places you would never expect! I love that darling hat, and Charlotte’s suggestion of making a long waisted dress for it is also my thought! For a change, I would not put flowers on the hat, but a thick, flat bow, like you see in hats from the ‘20’s, and have a marching band of ribbon underneath.
Susette, I love that croquet set! It’s always been on my list of things to get for the dolls, and your purchase just made it that much more more desirable! It’s one of those things that American Girl made years ago that were so realistic and collectible. Lucky you!
Hi Linda, It’s a wonderful set! All wood mallets, and metal on the wickets. The balls are plastic. *cut and paste of what I wrote below*
I snagged a NIB one years ago to go with Samantha’s Lawn Party outfit which comes with one slightly different wicket, mallet, and ball and of course the extra sweet socks and shoes.. The set works with my many eras ( Civil War, Edwardian, and 1930’s).
well good morning! I concur with both comments above,
Susette, what a cutie find! Your dollies all gathered on the steps too, to see the new treasure: the croquet set looks too small for AG dolls. Still all of them look very interested in playing. Only two balls so they will have to team up!
I love the new hat form!
So glad George’s surgery is over and done with and I hope he has a good recovery
Jeanne, I absolutely figured you made your own piping, I am glad you found some tiny piping though. I have made tiny piping for a few AG dolls back in the day. I also just used cord for cell blinds (I still have it and should repair the blinds in our bathroom, Youtube was the last resource I used to fix that blind, so I might give it a try again this week-end)
Well, I am enthralled with your “CEE MENT Pond? Jeanne. Has it ever been cold enough to ice skate on in winter…. wow, I used to be a figure skater and that would be dreamy, but anyway, I love it, and yes indeed it looks victorian and quite incredible. I am sure you have to do something to keep the “skeeters” away.
Yesterday I sold (gave away) my 237 mechanical machine to a “young guy” I think he was 48 (I miss being 48) He was really nice, I think single, but he has a very friendly dog in his truck. He looked “country” I did not grill him haha but I did give him a test try with the machine, and printed out the owners manual, and gave him my email
He lives in Bluemont, about 30 minute drive west. I told him I would help him any time.
I really hope his gets some kind of “sewing bug” we need to pull more people in!!!
Either case, that was a big emotional let go, but seriously, I bought the machine for the table. He did not want the table for it.
Okay, It is sunny here, we are told that pouring rain is arriving tomorrow. You know, I am in Northern Virginia all the way west 40 miles west of the swamp! and something about the mountains in W Va always blocks any very ugly weather, so I am hoping.
Have a happy Thursday everyone!
Glad to hear that George is recovering well. And what a great hat mold substitute find. A votive holder? What next? The hat turned out great and looks like a perfect fit too. I’m with Charlotte’s idea of a drop waste dress to go with it. Guess we’ll find out. 🙂
The pond aka pool aka patio aka fountain surround looks lovely filled with water. Kind of an artscape. I like it. Around here, we would have mosquitoes breeding in no time. They are going to be very bad this year with all of the rain we’ve had. Which reminds me that I need to get out and uncover my screened water feature and bail it out. And put in some mosquito repellent tabs.
Loved seeing Susette’s croquet set and her lovely dolls. Like Linda, I’ve always had that set on my list as well. I almost bought one, but forgot and didn’t. Guess we’ll all be looking now. 🙂
And on to another not so fun topic, tariffs. If anyone has been following, the latest tariffs could be as high as $150.00 added to the price of a Ruby Red doll. I think everyone is holding their breath on dolls from preorders. It’s kind of a wait and see what happens thing. But, it is not going to be pretty and could curtail many doll collectors I believe. There are no dolls being manufactured in the U.S. that I’ve heard of anyway. These would be those produced in plastic or resin. Anyone heard anything on tariffs on dolls?
More weeding going on around here and lots more to go. But, I think we’re going to take a break and go to Costco today. 🙂
I’ve been keeping up with the tariffs but I haven’t seen anything on dolls. But it is a shame that none are being manufactured here. I would like to see that change.
Did you see on one of the RRFF sites on FB, that they said the prices of the dolls will go up in a month? I believe Derf said that, so order what you want now.
I just looked it up. Prices will go up in May.
Does A valid make her own dolls, or just paint them? I know Dianna Effner had a place close to me in Missouri where she made dolls, but I don’t know if they are made there anymore or if anything is there ow.
I don’t believe that it is economically feasible to manufacture dolls here. The cost of labor is too much. It would be nice though.
Are the tariff’s going to effect your husband’s air/heating business? I think most everything we buy will be going up.
Unfortunately, I believe that a tariff is going into effect immediately for China. Was announced earlier today. 🙁
The first thing I thought of when I saw the croquet set was “I want one of those”. I loved playing croquet when I was a kid and I know my dolls would love the opportunity. But it seems some of my sofa sisters would like a set too and I’ve actually never seen a set for sale on eBay and I check out AG accessories often. I actually do prefer the 18″ accessories for my smaller dolls. I have both the baby grand piano and the upright (can picture the doll it belongs to but can’t remember her name). I don’t use either of them for my 18″ doll but love them for my RRFF because they actually can sit on the bench with their hands on the keys and their feet on the pedals. They look very realistic.
I love seeing Susette’s dolls. She has such a wonderful set of stairs on which to display them.
Another amazing hat mold. I really need to check out our Goodwill. We have a very nice, well-organized store but I never think about stopping in. I think the cloche hat is adorable and I totally agree it needs a drop waist dress.
So glad George is handling his surgeries well. He still has one more doesn’t he?
I guess living in southern Illinois you don’t really need a swimming pool, so I like your cement pond. We had a lot of people around here that had fish ponds but took them out because of the mosquito problem. I wish we had a pool. Bethlehem, PA, has four public swimming pools for their citizens. Here in Sealy where it gets hot as Hades most days in summer we have none.
They’ve started to put in a fancy splash pad but all that means is that the kids can get wet while the parents watch and sweat. This town is brainless when it comes to what would work best. We have a small splash pad in the park but few use it because of having to sit out in the heat. Why they think a bigger one would be different I have no clue. They put the question in the city paper this week asking do we think the splash pad is a wise idea for the town. Not one person voted yes.
When we moved here we had a competition pool over by the school. Instead of keeping it up, they tore it out and we were without a pool for a few years. Then they decided to build a pool and asked the people did they want a competition or recreational pool. No one really understood what recreational pool meant but they voted for one anyway. What we got was a giant wading pool that the kids loved but the parents weren’t keen on. The only portion of the pool where you could actually swim was where the volleyball net was and when people were playing volleyball it was actually dangerous for kids because they forgot to look out for them. Then this pool needed repairs and their idea was tear it out and build a splash pad. They were complaining that they couldn’t make any money on the pool because people weren’t using it. If they think that’s going to change with the splash pad, I think they’re barking up the wrong tree.
I had a difficult night last night. My one sciatic nerve got pinched right before I went to bed and I got no sleep. I have no clue what I did but nothing was working to fix the problem and I tried everything I had. Even my recliner was not comfortable. A shower this morning helped some but I still can’t stand up straight. I have no problem with getting older but this kind of stuff I could do without.
Hi Barbara, I have that set from years ago. There are three on eBay right now, but for way more than I paid.
Barbara, sure hope your sciatica improves. So painful.
What a cute hat , Jeanne. Perfect for a 1920-1930’s style dress. The
I have and love that croquet set, Susette! I snagged a NIB one years ago to go with Samantha’s Lawn Party outfit which comes with one slightly different wicket, mallet, and ball and of course the extra sweet socks and shoes.. The set works with my many eras ( Civil war, Edwardian, and 1930’s). It works with the PC/AG girls since you do bend over slightly to whack the ball. I hadn’t tried it with the Rubies, but now I will find time to do so sometime soon. It looks great with them.
Not that it matters, but it wasn’t a part of Samantha’s collection. It was part of the AGOT line that had started a few years before (1995). It was only available for one year.
https://americangirl.fandom.com/wiki/Croquet_Set
Thank you all for the Comments on the Croquet Set. I’m really enjoying and sharing it makes it even more fun. There are two of them on a website called Mercari, set prices, not auction , but one of the balls is missing in each set. Good luck finding the set.
Jeanne, the pond looks amazing, like it could be in the Shawn’s Garden Arboretum in St. Louis. You alw take the prize for thrift shop finds, but this one is truly amazing. Imagine seeing that and immediately thinking that form! You’re the winner 🏆!
I’m all for a dropped-waist dress to go with the cloche. My favorite era is the Roaring Twenties! Remember my favorite Halloween costume? It includes a genuine cloche. I can’t remember the name of the dress you made that I won that had that waist. Help me out here?